Cambridge Social Ontology

Yannick Slade-Caffarel is Lecturer in Economics and Philosophy at King’s College London, UK. He is also a member of the Cambridge Social Ontology Group and a co-founder of the Social Ontology Research Unit at King’s College London.

‘In Cambridge Social Ontology Yannick Slade-Caffarel provides a useful and insightful overview of Lawson’s social positioning theory, which is also timely given the recent spike in interest in the field of social ontology. Philosophers will find the comparison between Lawson’s views and those of John Searle to be of particular value.’Charlotte Witt, Professor of Philosophy, University of New Hampshire‘All those interested in the theory of social facts, in particular researchers in economics and sociology, will find much to reflect upon in this book. Written with exceptional clarity, a conceptual framework, Social Positioning Theory, is presented that, at the level of social ontology, aims to explain the nature of social totalities. In so doing, many of the most challenging topics (emergence, irreducibility, collective intentionality, collective acceptance, trust) are considered and important clarifications are provided. A must read.’ André Orléan, Directeur d’études, L’École des hautes études en sciences sociales, Directeur de recherche, Centre national de la recherche scientifique‘You could not wish for a more accessible introduction to the recent work of Tony Lawson and the Cambridge Social Ontology Group. Yannick Slade-Caffarel follows a clear path at a gentle pace that builds up a well-rounded, accurate, and easily understood picture of the group’s project and its implications.’Dave Elder-Vass, Honorary Fellow, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Loughborough University‘This welcome volume by Yannick Slade-Caffarel provides an excellent entry point to social positioning theory for those not familiar with its ongoing development. The ideas explained here are the focus of the Social Ontology group centred in Cambridge, UK, following on from the critical realist project. By setting out a thoughtful and careful account of social positioning theory for economics this volume will extend the influence of the social ontology project to a wider audience and encourage further debate.’Sheila Dow, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Stirling‘Slade-Caffarel’s introduction to social positioning theory lays out the foundations of a core subject in Cambridge social ontology project. The book provides a needed examination of ideas central to explaining social stratification and pervasive social inequality.’John B. Davis, Professor Emeritus of Economics, Marquette University and University of Amsterdam‘Yannick Slade-Caffarel has not only provided us with an accessible, insightful account of one the major schools of thought at the intersection of social theory and metaphysics, he has done so in a way that brings to life the 30-plus year history of realist social ontology at Cambridge. Slade-Caffarel is perfectly positioned, as it were, to pull off the admirable feat of introducing readers to a still-evolving body of work, as he himself is a long-standing member of the Cambridge Social Ontology Group. Anyone with an interest in social positioning theory, social ontology generally, or Tony Lawson's work most narrowly, will appreciate this important new resource.’Ruth Groff, Associate Professor, Saint Louis University

• 1 The Cambridge social ontology project 2 Totalities and their components 3 Social totalities and the nature of human communities 4 Social positions and community organising structure 5 Social positioning and the formation of community components